U.S. patent number 6,183,457 [Application Number 09/334,048] was granted by the patent office on 2001-02-06 for tampon and the method for packaging same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ruggli Projects AG. Invention is credited to Kurt Kuhn.
United States Patent |
6,183,457 |
Kuhn |
February 6, 2001 |
Tampon and the method for packaging same
Abstract
A tampon has a cylindrical base body having a rounded or conical
leading end and a rearward end having an end face. A string having
one end fastened within the cylindrical base body and having a main
string portion protruding from the end face is provided. A
removable protective sleeve encloses the cylindrical base body and
the main string portion and has an end portion covering the end
face. The main string portion is arranged completely at the end
face when the protective sleeve encloses the cylindrical base body
and the string. The main string portion has a string end resting at
the end portion of the sleeve, wherein the string end is materially
connected to the sleeve end portion. A method for packaging the
inventive tampon is disclosed.
Inventors: |
Kuhn; Kurt (Windlach,
CH) |
Assignee: |
Ruggli Projects AG
(CH)
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Family
ID: |
7870895 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/334,048 |
Filed: |
June 15, 1999 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jun 15, 1998 [DE] |
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198 26 541 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/385.18;
206/210; 206/361; 604/904 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
13/2051 (20130101); A61F 13/2085 (20130101); A61F
15/003 (20130101); Y10S 604/904 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
13/15 (20060101); A61F 13/20 (20060101); A61F
013/15 (); B65D 081/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;604/904,385.17,385.18,363 ;206/210,361,363,440 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1 157 733 |
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Nov 1963 |
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DE |
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26 46 772 |
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Apr 1978 |
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DE |
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88 02 553 |
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May 1988 |
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DE |
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296 20 118 U1 |
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Apr 1998 |
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DE |
|
Primary Examiner: Ruhl; Dennis
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Robert W. Becker &
Associates
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A tampon comprising:
a cylindrical base body (1.1) having a rounded or conical leading
end (1.2) and a rearward end having an end face (1.3);
a string having a first string end fastened within said cylindrical
base body (1) and having a main string portion (2) protruding from
said end face (1.3);
a removable protective sleeve (3) enclosing said cylindrical base
body (1) and said main string portion (2) and having an end portion
(3.3) covering said end face (1.3);
said string (2) arranged completely at said end face (1.3) when
said protective sleeve (3) encloses said cylindrical base body (1)
and said string (2);
said main string portion (2) comprising a second string end resting
at said end portion (3.3), wherein said second string end is
materially connected to said end portion (3.3).
2. A tampon according to claim 1, wherein said second string end is
thermally fused to said end portion (3.3).
3. A tampon according to claim 1, wherein said removable protective
sleeve (3) has a tear strip (4) extending about a circumference of
said base body (1) and positioned centrally relative to a length of
said base body.
4. A method for packaging a tampon of claim 1, said method
comprising the steps of:
a) loosely securing said main string portion at said end face (1.3)
of said cylindrical base body (1);
b) completely enclosing said cylindrical base body (1) and said
main string portion (2) in said removable protective sleeve
(3);
c) materially connecting said second string end of said main string
portion (2) to said end portion (3.3) of said removable protective
sleeve (3).
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein in said step c) said
second string end is thermally fused to said end portion (3.3) by a
heat source (6) positioned opposite said end face (1.3).
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said step c) includes
applying heat for 0.2 s to 1.5 s by a heating element of said heat
source (6) at a temperature of 80.degree. C. to 250.degree. C.
7. A method according to claim 4, wherein said step b) includes
providing said removable protective sleeve (3) with a tear tab (4).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tampon, especially for female
hygiene, comprised of a substantially cylindrical base body with a
leading end in the direction of insertion that is rounded or
conical as well as a rearward end with an end face from which
protrudes a portion of a string or band that with part of its
length is fastened within the base body. The base body and the
string are enclosed by a protective sleeve which is to be removed
before using the tampon. The invention furthermore relates to a
method for packaging the tampon.
Known tampons are comprised of a fiber fleece material which is
brought into the desired afore-disclosed shape by suitable pressing
tools. The known tampons differ primarily with respect to their
shape, holding capability, and their absorption rate. The latter is
determined by the absorption speed as well as the fluid receiving
capacity of the tampon. A uniform and high liquid absorption
capacity depends on the effective surface of the tampon. In order
not to affect the absorption capacity of the tampon after
manufacture by storing and transporting, it is conventional to
provide a protective sleeve that is usually made of cellophane.
The known tampons of the aforementioned type have the disadvantage
that the string for pulling out the tampon is pressed into the
fiber structure of the tampon during the step of enclosing the
tampon with the substantially air and moisture-tight protective
sleeve. Since a tampon is conventionally used with extended string,
it is necessary to remove the string before use from its position
pressed into the fiber structure. This not only entails the risk of
damaging the fiber structure, for example, by fingernails, thus
causing a detrimental effect on the absorption capacity of the
tampon, but also is undesirable with respect to hygienic
aspects.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
tampon with improved handling properties and also a method for
packaging such tampon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, the main string portion of the
string that is guided out of the base body is arranged completely
in the area of the end face when the tampon is enclosed by the
protective sleeve, whereby an end portion of the string resting at
the end portion of the protective sleeve at the end face of the
tampon is materially connected to the protective sleeve.
The term materially connected refers to bonding or fusing or
welding two materials to one another so that the two materials are
intimately and inseparably bonded.
In a tampon embodied accordingly, it is no longer required to grip
the string directly in order to extend it for use. This is so
because the main string portion extending from the base body is
removed and stretched upon removing of the end portion of the
protective sleeve that covers the rearward end face. This is
possible because the string portion exterior to the base body is
positioned only within the area of the rearward end face while the
protective sleeve is still enclosing the tampon and is only placed
at the end face of the tampon in a lose attachment for temporarily
securing the string thereat. Upon removal of the end portion of the
protective sleeve from the rearward end face, the main portion of
the string projecting from the base body is then removed forcibly
from the tampon because the end portion of the main string portion
is materially connected to the protective sleeve. The string is
thus stretched and extended whereby, only upon surpassing a certain
pulling force, the material connection between the string and the
protective sleeve will rupture. A complicated and difficult removal
of the string by fingernails is thus no longer required so that the
inventive tampon has improved handling properties.
Accordingly, gripping the string, as is known from the prior art
tampons, is no longer necessary so that, in addition, the risk of
damage to the surface of the tampon, especially removal of portions
of the fiber composite, for example, by fingernails is avoided. In
this manner, a potentially damaging deposit of fiber composite
material, removed from the tampon, within the body orifice after
use is thus reliably prevented.
In order to provide for a simple and reliable material connection
of the end portion of the main string portion and the end portion
of the protective sleeve covering the rearward end face, according
to an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is suggested that
the end portion of the protective sleeve covering the rearward end
face is connected by thermal fusing to the end portion of the
string resting thereat. According to a further feature of the
invention a tear tab is provided for the removal of the protective
sleeve. It is preferably positioned about the circumference of the
tampon approximately at half the length of the tampon. This has the
advantage that, after tearing open the protective sleeve by the
tear tab, the protective sleeve is thus divided into two
substantially sleeve-shaped portions whereby one of these sleeve
portions covers the leading end and the other of these sleeve
portions covers the opposed rearward end of the tampon. By actually
pulling apart these two portions, whereby at the same time the main
string portion connected to the rearward end face of the tampon is
also stretched, the protective sleeve can thus be easily removed
from the tampon without the risk of damaging it.
Inventively, the method for packaging a tampon as disclosed above
is characterized by the method steps of:
a) loosely attaching the main string portion of the string
extending from the cylindrical base body of the tampon in the area
of the rearward end face at the tampon for temporarily securing the
position of the string;
b) completely enclosing the tampon, including the loosely attached
string, by a protective sleeve;
c) materially connecting the end portion of the protective sleeve
at the rearward end face of the tampon to the end portion of the
string resting thereat.
With such a method the inventive tampon can be manufactured. This
is so because the end portion of the main string portion extending
from the tampon is loosely attached (temporarily secured) in the
area of the rearward end face for securing the string thereat and,
subsequently, the end portion of the protective sleeve covering the
rearward end face of the tampon is materially connected to the end
portion of the main string portion. In this manner, upon removal of
the protective sleeve, the main string portion of the string
extending from the base body is simultaneously stretched and
extended and removed from the end face of the tampon.
It is especially advantageous when the end portion of the
protective sleeve covering the rearward end face of the tampon is
connected by thermal fusing to the end portion of the string
resting at the end face, whereby the required heat energy is
provided by a heat source positioned opposite the rearward end
face. This ensures a safe attachment of the end portion of the
string to the protective sleeve during removal of the protective
sleeve, especially to such an extent that the string will be
completely extended and only thereafter, when a certain pulling
load is exerted, will be separated from the protective sleeve. This
arrangement of the heat source allows for a pointed thermal fusing
without affecting other portions of the protective sleeve. A
further advantage is that the fusing of the protective sleeve and
the string also closes off or seals the protective sleeve
substantially air and moisture tight at the rearward end.
With respect to an advantageous method, it is furthermore suggested
that the effective exposure time of the heat source is 0.2 s to 1.5
s at a temperature of the employed heating element between
80.degree. C. and 250.degree. C.
In order to provide for a simple manipulation of the tampon, it is
furthermore suggested to provide the protective sleeve with a tear
tab.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The object and advantages of the present inventions will appear
more clearly from the following specification in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of fusing the protective
sleeve of a tampon by a heat source positioned opposite the
rearward end face of the tampon;
FIG. 2 shows a side view of a tampon enclosed by a fused protective
sleeve showing the tear tab in its initial position;
FIG. 2a shows a view of the uncovered rearward end of the tampon
according to FIG. 2;
FIG. 3 shows a side view of the tampon according to FIG. 2 with the
tear tab removed;
FIG. 3a shows a view of the rearward end of the tampon according to
FIG. 2 covered by the protective sleeve;
FIG. 4 shows a side view of the tampon according to FIG. 3 with the
protective sleeve pulled apart;
FIG. 5 shows a side view of the tampon according to FIG. 4 with
completely removed protective sleeve and freely extending
string.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will now be described in detail with the aid
of several embodiments utilizing FIGS. 1 through 5.
The tampon 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 is comprised of a
substantially cylindrical base body 1.1 which has a rounded or
conical end 1.2 in the insertion direction and has a rearward
planar end face 1.3. A main string portion 2 of a string, which is
connected with a portion thereof within the base body 1.1, projects
from the rearward face 1.3 as can be seen especially in FIGS. 4 and
5. While the tampon 1 is comprised of fiber fleece material that is
pressed into the desired shape, the string is comprised of cotton
or viscose staple fiber. The base body 1.1 is also provide in the
longitudinal direction with ribs 1.4.
The tampon which is represented in FIGS. 1 through 3 is surrounded
by a protective sleeve 3 which is comprised of a substantially
sleeve-shaped rearward portion 3.1, which surrounds the rearward
end with the end face 1.3 of the tampon 1, and a substantially
sleeve-shaped forward end portion 3.2, which surrounds the forward
end 1.2 of the tampon 1. At approximately half the length of the
tampon 1 the inner side of the protective sleeve 3 is provided with
a tear tab 4 extending about the circumference of the tampon 1. The
protective sleeve 3 as well as the tear tab 4 are comprised of a
transparent foil, for example, cellophane. Alternatively, the
protective sleeve 3 and the tear tab 4 can also be comprised of
polypropylene.
For packaging the tampon 1 in the protective sleeve 3, in a first
step a main string portion 2 of the string projecting from the base
body 1.1 is loosely gathered and attached in the area of the
rearward end face 1.3 of the tampon 1, as can be seen especially in
FIGS. 2a and 3a. Subsequently, the tampon 1 including the loosely
attached main string portion 2 are completely enclosed by the
protective sleeve 3. Finally, the end portion 3.3 of the rearward
sleeve portion 3.1 of the protective sleeve 3 covering the rearward
end face 1.3 of the tampon is fused and in this manner is also
simultaneously connected (materially connected) to the end portion
of the main string portion 2 resting thereat. The thermal fusing of
the end portion 3.3 covering the end face for closing and sealing
the protective sleeve 3 and for connecting it to the main string
portion 2 is represented in FIG. 1. It can be seen that the tampon
1 is positioned in a blind bore-like receiving element 5 which
encloses the tampon 1 with the exception of the rearward end and
the rearward end face 1.3. Opposite the rearward end face 1.3, a
heating element 6, which is indicated symbolically by the double
arrow in FIG. 1, is arranged with which the end portion 3.3 of the
protective sleeve 3 covering the rearward end face 1.3 of the
tampon is pointedly heated. For an effective heating period of 0.2
seconds to 1.5 seconds the temperature is between 80.degree. C. and
250.degree. C.
In FIGS. 2 and 2a as well as 3 and 3a, the tampon 1 provided with
the protective sleeve 3 in the aforementioned manner is shown. In
the state represented in FIG. 2, the tear tab 4 is still attached
to the protective sleeve 3 between the forward sleeve portion 3.2
and the rearward sleeve portion 3.1 of the protective sleeve 3 so
that the tampon 1 is substantially sealed in an airtight and
moisture tight manner. The state represented in FIG. 3 shows the
tear tab 4 being removed. The forward sleeve portion 3.2 as well as
the rearward sleeve portion 3.1 of the protective sleeve 3 can be
removed only in opposite axial directions from the tampon 1, as can
be seen in FIG. 4. Advantageously, first the rearward sleeve
portion 3.1 of the protective sleeve 3 is removed and, during this
removal, the tampon 1 is held at the forward sleeve portion 3.2 of
the protective sleeve 3. In this manner a premature manual handling
of the tampon 1 is avoided so that the tampon 1 is protected
against damage and soiling. In this context, it is also important
that upon removal of the rearward sleeve portion 3.1 of the
protective sleeve 3, the sleeve portion 3.3 of the protective
sleeve 3 covering the rearward end face 1.3 of the tampon, which is
connected to the end portion of the main string portion 2, will
stretch the main string portion 2 of the string so that the string
is unfolded from the tampon 1. Once the main string portion 2 is
completely stretched, the connection between the main string
portion 2 and the end portion 3.3 of the protective sleeve 3 will
be separated from one another because of the resulting pulling
forces so that the string, as can be seen especially in FIG. 5,
extends freely.
The inventive tampon as well as the inventive method for packaging
will result in improved handling properties of the tampon. An end
portion of the main string portion 2 is connected to the protective
sleeve 3, so that by removing the protective sleeve 3 the string 2
protruding from the base body 1.1 of the tampon is unfolded and
stretched away from the tampon base body. A complicated and
difficult manual removal of the string 2 from the tampon is
eliminated. Furthermore, in this manner the tampon 1 is protected
against damage because no fiber composite portions will be
removed.
The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure of
German priority document 198 26 541.7 of Jun. 15, 1998.
The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the
specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but also
encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *